Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (“
Osisko”) (OR: TSX
& NYSE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a
binding agreement with SolGold plc (“
SolGold”)
(SOLG: TSX & LSE) with respect to a US$50 million royalty
financing (the “
Transaction”) to support the
advancement of SolGold’s Cascabel copper-gold property in
northeastern Ecuador.
As part of the Transaction, Osisko will acquire
a 0.6% net smelter return royalty (the “NSR”)
covering the entire 4,979 hectare Cascabel property, including
SolGold’s world-class Alpala project for which SolGold released the
results of a pre-feasibility study in April of 2022 (the
“PFS”).
Sandeep Singh, President and CEO of Osisko,
commented: “We are excited to partner with SolGold on one of the
best copper-gold discoveries made over the last decade. We believe
that Alpala has the potential to become a Tier-1 asset with a much
longer mine life than currently envisaged. SolGold was a first
mover in Ecuador and we view the broader Cascabel property as
having the geological potential to support significant further
discoveries. Osisko’s investment in SolGold adds yet another
high-quality royalty to our portfolio of peer-leading growth.”
INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Exceptional
Royalty on one of the Most Significant Cu-Au Discoveries
- NSR covers the
Cascabel property comprising 4,979 hectares of Andean Copper
Belt;
- Total resources at
Cascabel currently represent approximately 20% and 16% of the total
copper and gold in new major deposit discoveries since 2012 (as
compiled by SolGold);
- Based on the PFS,
the NSR would average approximately 4,700 annual gold-equivalent
ounces (“GEOs”) to Osisko over an initial 26-year
mine life and 7,600 GEOs over the first 10-years of nameplate
production.
- Exposure to
the Large-Scale Alpala Project
- The Alpala deposit
is SolGold’s principal focus on the broader Cascabel property. The
PFS study on Alpala outlined a large underground block cave mine
with an initial 26-year mine life based on Probable Reserves (only
21% of total M&I tonnage inventory);
- Alpala Probable
Reserves contain 3.3 Mt of Cu, 9.4 Moz of Au and 30 Moz of Ag (558
Mt of 0.58% Cu, 0.52g/t Au and 1.65g/t Ag);
- Alpala is estimated
to produce an average of 132 kt Cu and 358 koz Au annually over the
life of mine with peak annual production of 210 kt Cu and 829 koz
Au;
- Based on the PFS,
Alpala is expected to rank in the first decile in terms of
production costs.
- Further
Exploration Potential Within the Broader Property
- Presence of
regional targets on the Cascabel property that have similar
geophysical and geochemical characteristics to known mineralized
porphyry clusters on the property;
- The PFS mine plan
did not include a further 2 billion tonnes of resources which may
supplement production;
- A number of
prospective targets across the Cascabel concession in addition to
the discovered Alpala and Tandayama-America deposits.
TRANSACTION DETAILS
- Osisko will make an
upfront cash payment to SolGold of US$50 million in exchange for
the NSR;
- The NSR will be a
life-of-mine instrument covering the entirety of the Cascabel
property including the Alpala project;
- Beginning in 2030
and until the end of 2039, Osisko will receive minimum annual
payments under the NSR of US$4 million;
- SolGold shall have
a right to buydown one-third (1/3) of the NSR percentage for 4
years;
- Osisko has made a
three-year commitment to fund certain ESG initiatives at the
project;
- Closing of the
Transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent.
ALPALA PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Alpala deposit is the main target in the
Cascabel concession, located on the northern section of the heavily
endowed Andean Copper Belt. The project base is located at 800
meters above sea level in northern Ecuador, an approximately
three-hour drive on sealed highway north of Quito, close to water,
hydroelectric power supply and Pacific ports.
The Cascabel property lies on the margin of the
Eocene and Miocene metallogenic belts which are renowned for
hosting some of the world’s largest porphyry copper and gold
deposits.
The PFS outlines a mill throughput of 25 Mt per
year fed by a block cave operation. Due to the very efficient
mining method and transportation of ore to surface via conveyor
belts and access to hydroelectric power, the Alpala mine has the
potential to have very low carbon footprint.
About SolGold plc
SolGold is an emerging multi-asset major and
leading exploration company focused on the discovery, definition,
and development of world class copper and gold deposits. SolGold is
one of the largest concession holders in Ecuador exploring the
length and breadth of this highly prospective section of the Andean
copper belt. They are positioned to support Ecuador’s
transformation into the next copper frontier that the world needs
to achieve a net zero future.
For more information, please visit SolGold’s
corporate website at https://www.solgold.com.au/.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical content of this
news release has been reviewed and approved by Guy Desharnais,
Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice President, Project Evaluation at Osisko Gold
Royalties Ltd, who is a “qualified person” as defined by National
Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
(“NI 43-101”).
About Osisko Gold Royalties
Ltd
Osisko is an intermediate precious metal royalty
company focused on the Americas that commenced activities in June
2014. Osisko holds a North American focused portfolio of over 175
royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osisko’s portfolio
is anchored by its cornerstone asset, a 5% net smelter return
royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, which is the largest gold
mine in Canada.
Osisko’s head office is located at 1100 Avenue
des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Suite 300, Montréal, Québec,
H3B 2S2.
For further information,
please contact Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd: |
|
Heather TaylorVice President,
Investor RelationsTel: (514) 940-0670 #105Email:
htaylor@osiskogr.com |
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press
release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking
statements are statements other than statements of historical fact,
that address, without limitation, future events, production
estimates of assets (including increase of production, and
statements relating to GEOs of Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd
(“Osisko”), timely developments of mining properties over which
Osisko has royalties, streams, offtakes and investments,
management’s expectations regarding Osisko’s growth, results of
operations, estimated future revenues, production costs, carrying
value of assets, ability to continue to pay dividend, requirements
for additional capital, business prospects and opportunities future
demand for and fluctuation of prices of commodities (including
outlook on gold, silver, diamonds, other commodities) currency
markets and general market conditions, that all conditions
precedent will be met to complete the acquisition of a NSR on
SolGold’s Cascabel property, that the exploration and development
work on the Cascabel property will increase the estimated mine life
through discovery of additional mineral resources and that these
mineral resources will be eventually converted into reserves. In
addition, statements and estimates (including data in tables)
relating to mineral reserves and resources and gold equivalent
ounces are forward-looking statements, as they involve implied
assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no
assurance can be given that the estimates will be realized.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words
"expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends",
"estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled" and similar
expressions or variations (including negative variations), or that
events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should".
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond the
control of Osisko, and actual results may accordingly differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such risk
factors include, without limitation: inflation affecting costs
incurred by operators on properties in which Osisko holds a
royalty, stream or other interest, fluctuations in the prices of
the commodities that drive royalties, streams, offtakes and
investments held by Osisko; fluctuations in the value of the
Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar; regulatory changes by
national and local governments, including permitting and licensing
regimes and taxation policies; political stability, regulations and
political or economic developments in Ecuador and in any other
countries where properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream
or other interest are located or through which they are held; risks
related to the operators of the properties in which Osisko holds a
royalty, stream or other interests; favourable exploration results,
timely development, permitting, construction, commencement of
production, ramp-up (including operating and technical challenges)
on any of the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or
other interest; the unfavorable outcome of any challenges or
litigation relating title, permit or license with respect to any of
the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other
interests or to Osisko’s right thereon; differences in rate and
timing of production from resource estimates or production
forecasts by operators of properties in which Osisko holds a
royalty, stream or other interest, including conversion from
resources to reserves and ability to replace resources; business
opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Osisko;
continued availability of capital and financing and general
economic, market or business conditions; risks and hazards
associated with the business of exploring, development and mining
on any of the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or
other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected
geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or
cave-ins, flooding and other natural disasters or civil unrest or
other uninsured risks, the integration of acquired assets and the
responses of relevant governments to the COVID-19 outbreak and the
effectiveness of such response and the potential impact of COVID-19
on Osisko’s business, operations and financial condition. The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable,
including, without limitation: that SolGold continue to operate the
Cascabel property in a manner consistent with past practice and
with public disclosure ; the accuracy of public statements and
disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying
properties (including expectations for the development of
underlying properties that are not yet in production); no adverse
development in respect of any significant property in which Osisko
holds a royalty, stream or other interest; that statements and
estimates relating to mineral reserves and resources by owners and
operators of the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream
or other interest are accurate; the Company’s ongoing income and
assets relating to determination of its “passive foreign investment
company” (“PFIC”) status; integration of acquired assets; and the
absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or
results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or
intended.
For additional information on risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to the most recent
Annual Information Form of Osisko filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
and EDGAR at www.sec.gov which also provides additional general
assumptions in connection with these statements. Osisko cautions
that the foregoing list of risk and uncertainties is not
exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the
above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the
risk they entail. Osisko believes that the assumptions reflected in
those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance
can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate as
actual results and prospective events could materially differ from
those anticipated such the forward looking statements and such
forward-looking statements included in this press release are not
guarantee of future performance and should not be unduly relied
upon. In this press release, Osisko relies on information
publicly disclosed by third parties pertaining to its assets and
more specifically to the Cascabel property and, therefore, assumes
no liability for such third party public disclosure. These
statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Osisko
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable
law.
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